Collapse OS – Why Forth?
11 days ago
- #Forth
- #CollapseOS
- #Programming
- Collapse OS was initially written in Z80 assembler, but feedback suggested Forth as an alternative.
- Forth aligns well with Collapse OS's design goals, particularly in terms of compactness and simplicity.
- Forth is not necessarily more expressive or faster than C, but it excels in compactness and high-level constructs.
- Forth's compactness allows Collapse OS to achieve self-hosting with minimal resources, similar to its Z80 assembler counterpart.
- Forth encourages simplicity and minimalism, which helps in managing complexity and reducing cognitive load.
- Reading Forth code can be challenging due to its high cognitive load, but writing it promotes simplicity and discipline.
- Forth's culture of simplicity and constraints contrasts with modern trends of increasing complexity in technology.
- Forth's expressiveness can rival or surpass C, especially with compile-time tooling, without significant runtime costs.
- The author's perspective on Forth evolved over time, appreciating its strengths in expressiveness and simplicity.